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“I am.” She held her head high as she squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. So how about we go downstairs and bring the roof down on this house?”
Lucas’ smile was genuine now as he held onto Alina’s hand as she led the way out of the room.
Unknowingly to Alina, Dereck arrived while she engaged in conversation with Lucas. After searching the room, his eyes rested on a young girl, no more than twenty. She had similar features to Alina, and Dereck assumed it was her younger sister who attended university. She had to be the guest of honor whose break from school started a small gathering.
“Excuse me. I’m Dereck, Alina’s boyfriend. Do you know where she is?” Dereck approached the young woman.
She began answering before even watching Dereck, but halfway through her sentence, her eyes landed on him and widened. “Alina and Lucas went to her bedroom.”
The young woman was scanning his body hungrily, but Dereck had no time to entertain her. Did she just say Alina was in her bedroom with that man?
He turned immediately and sprint up the stairs, taking them two at a time until he reached the top. Dereck arrived just in time to see Alina and Lucas emerge out of the room, holding hands.
Seeing the tension in Dereck’s jaw, Alina released her friend’s hand and proceeded to her boyfriend and father of her unborn child.
“This isn’t what it looks like.” Alina put up her hand to Dereck’s chest in an attempt to stop his advances, but he ignored her, walking around with his fingers folded into a fist.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dereck’s voice had a deep rumble Alina would have considered sexy if it weren’t for the circumstances.
“None of your damn business,” Lucas spat back.
“What you do with my woman is my business?” Dereck’s chest pushed upward and Alina feared his fist would actually land on Lucas’ face.
The last thing she wanted was for these two men to fight at her parents’ get-together because of her, but their voices were raised and the friction was gaining attention. “Guys, how about we calm down and discuss this like adults?”
Dereck swung around to her but kept Lucas in sight. “I told you before, this man is not interested in your friendship. He only wants one thing from you.”
“Alina.” Alina swung around to several onlookers, including her parents. Her mother had a worried expression. “Alina, what is going on here?”
Alina was about to soothe her mother’s worries when Lucas responded to Dereck’s comment. “Yes, that’s right. I am interested in Alina romantically.” Alina’s friend admitted, much to her dismay. This was only going to make things worse with Dereck. “And if Alina chose me instead of you, I wouldn’t have knocked her up and then abandoned her.”
“What?” Laura squealed, her eyes wide as the plastic glass fell from her hand, spilling all its contents. “Alina, you’re pregnant.”
Alina’s eyes narrowed down at her friend as he realized his mistake. His face softened then as he held her gaze. “Alina, I’m so sorry. I didn’t…” Lucas started his apology but was interrupted by a powerful masculine voice, silencing the murmurs around the walkway.
“Get out.” Alina spun around to look at her fuming father. She had never seen her father this upset in her entire life. Not even when she argued with her parents and stormed out of the house.
“I’m really sorry, everyone. I never meant for any of this to happen.” Lucas started walking away before he was once again interrupted by Alina’s father.
“Not you. Him.” The elder man pointed at Dereck, his eyes torching him.
“Me?” Dereck blurted, his finger pointing to his chest.
Lewis walked slowly to Dereck and, though shorter, his presence was not diminished. “You think I haven’t figured out what happened here? I knew Alina didn’t return home just to visit her parents, but I ignored it. I regret that now.” Lewis took a closer step. “She came back here to escape you.” His voice was rising. “And you still followed her here?”
“Daddy, you don’t understand.” Alina needed to temper the situation before it really got out of hand. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Don’t you dare defend him?” Lewis’s voice was harsh, and it echoed through the room. “I can never support this man after what he’s done. I hope you can understand that.”
“Daddy. Dereck didn’t abandon me. He didn’t even know I was pregnant.” Alina tried again to temper the situation, but Dereck had already accepted his fate.
He held up his hand, stopping her from speaking further. “I’ll leave,” he announced before whispering to Alina, “Call me.” Dereck then left her parents’ house as Alina’s stomach suddenly churned.
40
5 months later…
Dereck smoothed some blonde hair behind Alina’s ears before pulling her for a closer snuggle. Inhaling her sweet floral scent, he closed his eyes momentarily as she shifted in his arms. She was so angelic while she slept, like the angel she was, though he couldn’t say the same when she was awake. Alina was a burst of energy and humor. All features he loved about her.
